Nursing archives

2019

Celebrating 10 years of IVNA CongressRegistration is now open for our very exciting and special 10th IVNA Congress anniversary, which takes place on May 24-26, 2019, at The Grand Hotel, Malahide writes Lorraine McDonnell RVN

2018

Ninth Annual Irish Veterinary Nursing Association CongressThe Irish Veterinary Nursing Association (IVNA) committee, in conjunction with our main sponsors Royal Canin and Allianz, is currently in the process of finalising the Ninth Annual IVNA Congress 2018, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13, 2018; and this year it will be held at the Red Cow Moran Hotel, Dublin, writes Lorraine McDonnell, vice-chairperson, IVNA

Community Cat NetworkEstablished six years ago to fulfil a need within the Irish animal-welfare niche, Community Cats Network introduced the Trap-Neuter-Return programme, which is growing in demand around Ireland

Physiotherapy – an unusual case for treatmentAlthough veterinary physiotherapy is a new and growing industry in Ireland, its versatility as a treatment option has been acknowledged for decades in the UK. Veterinary physiotherapist, Jane Tyrrell RVN AdvCertVPhys, discusses how it was used, along with traditional techniques, to assist in the recovery of a very unusual patient

The impact of disordered physiology on the provision of veterinary nursing care: chronic renal failurePatients are hospitalised for many reasons and it is essential VNs have knowledge and understanding of common disorders and the associated clinical signs in order to justify their chosen nursing interventions, writes Liane Henry RVN

2017

The Eighth Annual Irish Veterinary Nursing Association Congress 2017The IVNA committee is currently in the process of finalising Congress 2017, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28, 2017, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway, writes Lorraine McDonnell RVN, vice chairperson, IVNA

Laminitis in the horse: part ILaminitis in the horse is one of the most common cases presented in mixed and equine practices and yet there are few papers published which distinctly cover the nursing care of these horses. This article will review papers and concentrate on the scientific advances and the role of the veterinary nurse in long-term management of the laminitic horse, writes Laura Ann McDonnell RVN

Anaemia in dogs and cats (part 2)In the second part of this article, RCVS recognised and European veterinary specialist in small animal medicine, Polly Frowde MAVetMB DipECVIM MRCVS examines the causes and management of regenerative anaemia

October 2017Husbandry and hospitalisation of rabbits and Guinea pigsJessica Griffin, who is currently studying the Veterinary Nursing Degree course at University College Dublin (UCD), has had many years' experience in handling animals; here, she discusses the appropriate housing and hospitalisation of rabbits and Guinea pigs

Irish Veterinary Nurses Association Veterinary Nurse of the Year 2017Lorraine McDonnell RVN, catches up with this year’s Irish Veterinary Nurses Association (IVNA) Veterinary Nurse of the Year, Ailbhe Lawlor, to find out what inspired her to become a veterinary nurse

The seventh annual IVNA Congress 2016The IVNA committee is in the process of finalising Congress 2016. This year, we are heading west, with the event taking place in the Galway Bay Hotel on May 21-22, writes Lorraine McDonnell RVN

IVNA Charity of the Year: MADRAIn December 2015, the Irish Veterinary Nurses Association (IVNA) asked its members to vote, via an online poll and email, to help choose our charity of the year. From our shortlist of three, MADRA was chosen to be our 2016 charity, writes Lorraine McDonnell RVN

Canine hyperadrenocorticism (part II) In her second article instalment on canine hyperadrenocorticism, Lorraine McDonnell RVN discusses the diagnosis and management of hyperadrenocorticism, including how to distinguish between pituitary and adrenal-dependent disease (in which the treatment options can vary)

Nursing the vestibular patientVestibular disease is one of the most common neurological cases that present in general practice and should also be considered as one of the most difficult and demanding cases when it comes to veterinary nursing, writes Lorraine McDonnell RVN

Irish Veterinary Nursing Association Congress 2016The seventh annual Irish Veterinary Nursing Association (IVNA) Congress headed west this year and was held in the Galway Bay Hotel. This year the Congress was sponsored by Royal Canin and Allianz with approximately 150 delegates registered for the first day alone, writes IVNA Vice Chairperson Lorraine McDonnell RVN

Veterinary Nursing SurveyBetween 2015 and 2016, the first national survey of the veterinary nursing profession in Ireland was carried out and commissioned by the Veterinary Council of Ireland. This independent body of work was completed by the market research Company Behaviour & Attitudes Limited and the results were released during the IVNA congress last May, writes Lorraine McDonnell RVN

The role of antimicrobial wound dressingsRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons Golden Jubilee award winner Louise O'Dwyer MBA BSc (Hons) VTS (Anaesthesia and ECC) Dip AVN (Medical and Surgical) RVN, clinical support manager for Vets Now UK, worldwide lecturer, and co-author of Wound management in small animal: a practical guide for veterinary nurses and technicians, discusses how dressings have a major part to play in the modern management of wounds

Veterinary Nurse of the Year 2016At the seventh annual IVNA Congress in May 2016, Catherine Hartin RVN won the Award for Veterinary Nurse of the Year 2016. Here, she discusses her career and veterinary nursing as a profession in Ireland

IVNA Student Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award 2016Following on from last month's edition, we asked our IVNA Student Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award 2016, Elaine Hughes from Dublin, to discuss her career, how to access support and gives advice to newly qualified nurses

Gastrointestinal bluesFollowing last year’s positive feedback, the Annual Irish Veterinary Nursing Association Roadshow was once again held as a day event, which carried seven CVE credits on three Saturdays. The roadhsow was held in three locations around Ireland starting in the Maldron Hotel in Galway, moving on to the Dogs Trust Dublin, and ending at St John’s College, Cork, writes Lorraine McDonnell, chairperson, Irish Veterinary Nurses Association